Bobbie Dazzler Written by Margaret Wild Illustrated by Janine Dawson Bobbie the red-necked wallaby can jump and bounce and skip and even hop on one leg, but no matter how hard she tries she cannot do the splits! Her friends koala, possum and wombat don’t seem to think it’s a problem. After all she can do somersaults, backwards and forwards, and hand springs. But that isn’t enough for Bobbie. This is a simple, war m story about four good friends, with the ink and watercolour illustrations add- ing to the joyfulness and the humour of the text. It’s an appeal- ing Australian story that will delight the very young and also could lead to lots of discussion and fun activities for teachers and parents. ★★★★ Working Title Press $24.95 Age guide 3+ REVIEWED BY MERLE MORCOM younger readers word of mouth The Princess and the Pea Text, illustrations and stage design by Lauren Child Photography by Polly Borland When I was asked to review The Princess and the Pea I didn’t expect to be wooed the way I was. It’s always been one of my favour ite Hans Christian Andersen stories but not one that I would expect to thrill young children. But all that has changed with this beauti- fully presented picture book, in which Lauren and Polly have collaborated to set the story in a magical, miniature, 3-dimensional world. Lauren has drawn, cut out and dressed the characters in layers of paper, set the scenes with exquisite detail and even made the magnificent bed with the twelve mattresses hiding the green garden pea herself. The story is simply told with love and humour and Polly Borland with her clever photography has breathed life into this classic fairy tale. This book will captivate adults and children alike. ★★★★★ Puffin $29.95 Age guide 6+ ����������������������� ��� ���� ��� ����� ��� ����� ���� ����� ��������� ������������ ������ ����� ������ �� ������������ ���������� �� ��� ����� �� ������� ������� ��� ����������� ��� ���������� ������ �� ����� � ������ �� � ��������� ������ ������������� ���� ���� ���� ������ �� ����� � ���� ���� �� ��� ���������� ��������� �������� ������ �� ����� � ������ �� � ��� ����� �� ������� ����������� �� ������� �� ������� ������������������� ����� ��������� � �������� ������� ���� ��� ���������� ��������� �� ����������� �� �������� ������ �� ����� � ������ �� � ����� ��������� ���������������� ������� �� ����� ��������� ������ ������ � ������ ���������� ���� �� ���������� ������� ���� ������ ��� ������ �� ������ ������������ ������ �� ����� � ������ �� � Lost and Found Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers ‘Once there was a boy and one day he found a penguin at his door.’ From this very first sentence I knew I would enjoy this book. It invited me to read on.You see it seems to the boy that this penguin is lost as he looks so sad and insists on following him everywhere. But what should he do with a lost penguin? Simple. Take him back where he came from. So together he and the penguin row to the South Pole, with the boy telling wonderful stories all the way and the little penguin listening. But is this little penguin lost or does he just need a friend? Oliver Jeffers’s illustrations are so bright and happy – except when they’re scary, with waves as big as mountains – and comple- ment the text perfectly. A lovely good feel book. ★★★★ Harpercollins $24.95 Age guide 4+